Featured

Inspired by the works of Arthur C. Clarke, J.G. Ballard and Philip K. Dick, Infinite Summer sees Michael Lovett’s NZCA Lines “marry sci-fi futurism to personal intimacies” to produce what must surely be one of the funkiest apocalyptic concept albums of all time. Indeed, also featuring former Ash guitarist Charlotte Hatherley and drummer Sarah Jones (Hot Chip, New Young Pony Club), the follow-up to 2012’s self-titled debut may center on […]

Named after a term used for trained assassins he heard in a documentary on espionage, Skilled Mechanics sees trip-hop trailblazer Tricky assemble his own killer team for the most collaborative studio effort of his lengthy career. Some of those on board are no stranger to the world of Adrian Thaws, including regular vocalist Francesca Belmonte who lends her sultry tones to the eerie synth-balladry of “We Begin,” drummer Luke Harris […]

As you’d expect from a founding member of studious classical-electro outfit Clean Bandit, British-Ugandan vocalist/rapper Love Ssega certainly isn’t short on brainpower. Born and raised in South London, the 24-year-old graduated from Cambridge University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, then made the brave decision to quit the aforementioned Grammy winners to finish his Ph.D. in laser sensing. Love Ssega (real name Ssegawa-Ssekintu Kiwanuka) is just as cultured as he […]

Judging by all the pre-release talk of shunning EDM, steering dance music back into a proper direction and making a piece of art, you’d expect Steve Angello’s second solo LP, Wild Youth, to be something of a game-changer. So it’s slightly baffling to hear that the Stockholm DJ has delivered the kind of unadventurous, generic and largely forgettable record he appears to be rallying against. Indeed, featuring guest appearances from […]

David Bowie, arguably one of the most influential figures in modern music for the past 40-plus years, died on Sunday, Jan. 10 after a battle with cancer. He was 69. While previous rumors of his death in years past were greatly exaggerated, the news has been confirmed by Bowie’s representatives and his son Duncan Jones (via Twitter). The following statement appears on Bowie’s official Facebook page: “David Bowie died peacefully […]

So after crowning Jamie xx’s “Loud Places” and Bob Moses’ Days Gone By as the greatest single and album of 2015 respectively, we now switch our attention to what we can expect to hear over the next twelve months in the world of dance/electronica. The first big album out of the blocks this year is Moth (Jan 22), the third album from alt-pop duo Chairlift, which judging by its first […]

Delerium “Music Box Opera”: Album Review

Nettwerk (2012)

The 2000 Sarah McLachlan collaboration “Silence” remains one of the defining trance classics, but as anyone familiar with the rest of their back catalogue will already know, Canadian outfit Delerium’s usual sound is more meditation tape than Ministry of Sound. Recording half the album with Jeremy Inkel in Vancouver, and half with Rhys Fulber in Los Angeles, Bill Leeb continues on this spiritual path with the New Age pioneers’ first record in six years, Music Box Opera.

For those unconvinced by the concept of the studio album in the pick-and-choose era of iTunes and Spotify, this belated follow-up to 2006’s Nuages du Monde puts forward a pretty strong case. Taken out of context, most individual tracks fail to grab much attention. Opener “Consciousness of Love,” a blend of seductive R&B vocals and twitchy slow-motion electro which sounds like a mash-up between Enigma and early Sugababes, has a vague whiff of minor hit, as does the ethereal synth-pop of “Chrysalis Heart,” which could quite easily have fit onto Ellie Goulding’s recent LP.

But Music Box Opera needs to be experienced in its entirety for its lush textured soundscapes to properly reel you in. Admittedly, there are a few self-indulgent noodlings which will test the patience of even the most relaxed souls, particularly the meandering Middle Eastern instrumental, “Awakening.”

However, on the whole, Delerium infuse their mystical brand of electronica with enough twists and turns to prevent listeners from slipping into a coma. The gothic trip-hop of “Light Your Lights” and the Leftfield-esque “Sky (Tears From Heaven)” sees regular collaborators Jael and Kristy Thirsk respectively hark back to the nocturnal Bristolian sounds of the mid-90s.

The Michael Logan-sung “Days Turn Into Nights,” first male vocal featured on a Delerirum track since Matthew Sweet on 2001’s “Daylight,” merges a dreamy William Orbit-style production with the soft-rock melodies of One Republic. Several other newcomers to the fold also make their mark, from Nadina on the Middle Eastern breakbeat of “Monarch,” to US dream-pop duo Azure Ray on the seductive “Keyless Door.”

Arguably Delerium’s most consistent and immersive release to date, Music Box Opera proves that New Age music is capable of being captivating as well as calming.

3.5 / 5 stars

Share and Enjoy

About the Author

Jon O'Brien's love of music began as a six-year-old after becoming bizarrely transfixed with the 80s poodle rock of Heart, Europe and Def Leppard. Switching his attention to pop icon Michael Jackson, he then became addicted to the UK Top 40, becoming a rather pointless walking Wikipedia of chart positions in the process. Driving his poor neighbors up the wall while learning to play the drums as a teen, he toyed with the idea of becoming a musician, but in studying Journalism at the University of Central Lancashire, he realized heÕd rather write about music than perform it. Since then, he's written thousands of reviews and biographies on everything from bubblegum pop to death metal, but electronica remains his main passion, with everything from Aphex Twin to Zero 7 in his spare room-consuming record collection. Jon resides in northwest England near Liverpool.